Fingerprint machine



, April 1l, 1939.

H. L. BALLARD FNGERPRINT MACHINE Filed July 23, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l rlnsslnrnrnw :man

E7 g INVENTOR.

April 11, 1939. H. L. BALLARD 2,153,684

FINGTRRTNT MACHINE Filed July 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Misener Manufacturing Co.,

Inc., Syracuse,

N. Y.,`a corporation of New York Application July 23, 1937, Serial No. 155,169

5 Claims.

My invention relates to fingerprint machines for use in conjunction with the identification cards now in use by the dii-ferent bureaus of identiiication for taking the fingerprints `of 5 prisoners, and has for its object a particularly simple and eiicient device by the use of which the fingers can be inked and the card held in a `'plurality of positions for taking the different impressions without harming the card or blurring lo the impressions.

The invention consists in the novel features I and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my machine partly broken away and partly in section.

Figure 2 illustrates the card upon which th fingerprints are recorded.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of part seen in Figure 1.

'Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken centrally of Figure 1.

This iingerprint machine comprises generally,

a rectangular shaped body having a base portion extending beyond the ends thereof, a card guide formed in and extending across the upper portions of said body from the front to the back thereof, a guard plate xed to the top of said body and forming the top of said card guide, an inking plate hinged to the rear portion of said guard plate and overlying the same when in an operative position, and a spring tensioned yoke pivoted to the ends of said body and extending across the front thereof for holding a card in any desired position when in said card guide.

As seen in the drawings the rectangular body I is longer than it is wide and is preferably of wood, and the base portion 2 is secured thereto as by screws 3, and extends beyond the sides 4 of said body I. Y

The front side 5 of the rectangular body is vertically arranged and the top thereof is formed with a recessed portion 6 extending from the front to the back thereof, and the front portion of said recess 6 is curved to meet the upper portion of the front side 5 as shown at l for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

The recessed portion is covered by a guard plate 8 extending to the ends 4 of the body and from the iront side 5 to the back thereof and is xed to the top thereof beyond the recessed por- 55 tion 6 as by screws 9.

The recessed portion 6 of the body together with the guard plate forms a card guide extending from the covered front portion 1 to the back of the machine.

The guard plate 8 is cut away from the front f" side to approximately midway thereof as shown at IIJ to expose the card Il in the card guide as illustrated in Figure 1.

I2 is the inking plate, hinged at I3 to the rear portion of the guide plate 8 and arranged to4 overlie said plate 8 when in its operative position, and I4 are bumpers for supporting the front end of said inking plate l2 when in said position.

The identification cards II have one side thereof arranged to have three different series` of fingerprints made thereon. The series of spaces A, Figure 2, across the card are for the thumb and lingers of the left hand made separately, the series B are for the thumb and iingers of the right hand made separately, and the series C are for the fingers of the left hand taken simultaneously, the thumbs taken together, and theY fingers of the right hand taken simultaneously.

It is obvious that a card of this character has to assume three different positions in the card guide to make the three different series of ngerprints and must be held rmly in each position to prevent smudging the prints.

'I'he means for holding the cards II firmly in position in the card guide for each series of ngerprints comprises a spring pressed yoke I5 pivotally mounted at I6 on the ends 4 of the body I and extending around the iront side 5 thereof.

The coiled springs Il, Figure 1, hold the yoke I5 against said front side 5.

In use this machine is preferably fixed to the front edge of a desk or table I8 by means of screws through holes I9 in the extended portions of the base plate 2.

The card II is first placed in the card guide with the series A spaces exposed to View through the out out I in the guard plate 8, and the bottom portion of the card bent downwardly around the curved portion 'I and held against the front Wall of the body l by the spring pressed yoke I5 as shown in Figure 3.

The inking plate I2 is put into operative position as shown in yFigure 3 with the ink rolled on the side thereof in the usual way.

The fingers are then inked by placing them irmly on the side 2l) of the plate I2 and the plate moved to its inoperative position as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4.

'I'he prints of the nngers and thumb of the right hand are then impressed in their respective spaces.

The card is then released by moving the spring pressed yoke I6 by means of the handle portions 2| thereon, from the position shown in full lines Figure 4 to that shown in dotted lines, same figure.

This process is repeated for each series of fingerprints.

In Figures 1 and 4 the card is shown in position to receive the last, or series C impressions and in Figure 1 said impressions are illustrated in dotted lines.

The guard plate 8 is preferably formed with ribs 22 on the underside thereof and these ribs coact with portions 23 of the card I I upon which there are no impressions made and prevent freshly inked impressions from being blurred or mussed up by coming in contact with the lower side of the guard plate 8.

The rounded corner I prevents the card from being broken when clamped in position by the spring pressed yoke I5 and the extended ends of the base plate 2 provide stops for said yoke when said yoke is in its operative or holding position.

What I claim is:-

1. A fingerprint machine comprising a rectangular shaped body having vertically arranged sides and ends, and a horizontally arranged top, a card guide arranged in the upper portion ci said body and extending from said vertically arranged front side to the back thereof, means for holding. a card in said guide with the rear end thereof extending downwardly against said front side comprising a spring tensioned yoke extending across the front side of said body for holding said card against said front side.

2. A fingerprint machine comprising a rectangular shaped body, having vertically arranged sides and ends and a horizontally arranged top, a recessed portion in said top extending from the front to the back of said body, a guard plate arranged above said recessed portion, said recess and said guard plate forming a card guide, and

an inking plate pivotally mounted on the back of said guard plate and arranged to overlie said guard plate when in its operative or inking position.

3. A fingerprint machine comprising a rectangular shaped body, having vertically arranged sides and ends and a horizontally arranged top, a recessed portion in said top extending from the vertically arranged front side of said body to the back thereof, the front end of said recessed portion being rounded Where it meets said vertically arranged front side, a guard plate arranged above said recessed portion, said recessed portion and said guard plate forming a card guide, means for holding a card in said card guide with the rear end portion thereof extending downwardly around the curved front end of the recessed portion of the card guide and against the front wall of the body comprising a spring pressed yoke pivotally fixed tothe ends of said body and extending across the front of the downturned end of said card.

4. A fingerprint machine comprising a rectangular shaped body having vertically arranged -sides and ends and a horizontally arranged top, a recessed portion in said top extending from the vertically arranged front side of said body to the back thereof, the front end of said recessed portion being rounded where it meets said vertically arranged front side, a guard plate arranged above said recessed portion, said recessed portion and said guard plate forming a card guide for holding a card in said card guide with the rear end portion thereof extending downwardly around the curved front end of the recessed portion of the said card guide, said guard plate being cut "away from the front thereof to approximately midway thereof to expose a portion of the card in the card guide, ribs on the lower side of said guard plate extending from the cut away portion to the back of said plate, means for holding said downwardly extending portion of the card against the front wall of the body comprising a spring tensioned yoke pivotally xed to the ends of said body and extending across the front wall thereof and across the front of the downturned end of said card; said yoke being operable about said pivots to release said card.

5. A fingerprint machine comprising a rectangular shaped body having vertically arranged sides and ends and a horizontally arranged top, a base portion extending beyond the ends of said body portion, a recessed portion in said tcp extending from the vertically arranged front side of said body to the back thereof, the front end of said recessed portion being rounded where it meets said vertically arranged front side, a guard plate arranged above said recessed portion, said recessed portion and said guard plate forming a card guide, means for holding a card in said card guide with the bottom end thereof extending downwardly against said front wall comprising a spring tensioned yoke pivotally mounted on the ends of said body and extending across said front side, the side arms of said yoke coacting with the base portion of said body when in its operative or holding position and said yoke being operable about said pivots to an inoperative position when the card is released.

HAROLD L. BALLARD. 

